In 2006, I wrote about the advantages of reverse (back-in) angle parking. Four years later, slowly but surely, street parking spaces near Downtown are making the switch.
The latest example is in Walker's Point on Seeboth Street just before the alley entrance to Alterra Foundry. Personally, I love the new parking option and as I wrote in 2006, the advantages are plenty.
When backing into a spot, your only concern is the space directly behind your car; if that area is clear, you're good to go. But getting out of the spot is easy since your view is clearer than regular angle parking.
Of course, it's not "natural" to back into parking spots, but Milwaukee will and can learn.
"I think we should give it a go. Most people who have tried it in their communities feel that it is safer to back in because when you leave you see what's coming with no blind spots," said Beth Nicols, executive director of Milwaukee Downtown.
"I can say from my own experience when I pull in on Kilbourn to park it's OK -- when I'm backing out I feel like I'm playing Russian roulette."
And, while there aren't plans to drastically implement reverse angle parking, some leaders don't see downsides to the option.
"It is certainly worth exploring to determine citizen reaction and safety," Ald. Robert Bauman told me via e-mail.
What do you think? Have you reverse angle parked yet? Use the Talkback feature below to react.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
